BYOD: Why We Created a Bring Your Own Design Tattoo Event — And Why It Worked
“This wasn’t about selling tattoos. It was about letting people take part in the decision.”
Why We Decided to Change the Way Tattoo Events Work
Tattoo events are nothing new.
For years, studios have relied on flash events — artist-prepared designs, limited choices, quick decisions, and fast turnover.
They work. They’re familiar. And they’ve become predictable.
But over time, we started noticing something different at Studio Hon in Saskatoon.
People weren’t asking for more flash designs.
They weren’t asking for louder promotions.
They weren’t asking for bigger discounts.
They were asking questions.
- “Can I bring something I’ve been thinking about for years?”
- “What if my idea isn’t perfect yet?”
- “Can an artist help me finish something I already have in mind?”
That’s where BYOD — Bring Your Own Design came from.
Not as a promotion.
Not as a sales tactic.
But as a response to how people actually want to participate in their tattoo decisions.
Why Traditional Flash Events Started to Feel Limited
There’s nothing wrong with flash events.
Traditionally, they are:
- artist-led
- portfolio-driven
- fast-paced
- visually exciting
But they also share one common limitation:
The client’s role is mostly reactive.
You choose from what’s already there.
You adapt yourself to the design.
You make a quick decision.
Over time, we noticed that many clients — especially those who had been thinking about tattoos for a long time — wanted something different.
They didn’t want to be rushed.
They didn’t want to choose from a wall.
They wanted to be involved.
The Idea Behind BYOD: Shifting the Centre of the Process
BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Design, but the idea goes deeper than that.
It’s not about whether the design is “good” or “bad.”
It’s about ownership.
For this event, we invited clients to:
- bring a design they had saved for years
- bring a rough sketch they drew themselves
- bring a concept that wasn’t fully formed yet
Some designs were clean.
Some were messy.
Some were simple.
Some were deeply personal.
Our role as artists wasn’t to replace their ideas —
it was to refine, translate, and complete them with professional care.
How the BYOD Event Actually Worked
To keep the experience safe, focused, and consistent, the BYOD event followed clear standards.
Booking Format
- Pre-booked only (no walk-ins)
- This allowed proper consultation and preparation
- Every client received focused time with an artist
Design Guidelines
- Simple designs
- Approximately 3 inches
- Clean linework or minimal shading
- Designed for quality and longevity
Artist Role
- Professional refinement of client-provided designs
- Adjusting proportions, line weight, and placement
- Ensuring the design translated well to skin
Pricing Approach
- Event-adjusted pricing
- No tattoo exceeded $80
- Pricing was intentionally kept accessible
- This was about participation, not profit
- As a thank you to everyone who visited, we have provided a $20 voucher.
The goal was not speed.
The goal was clarity and confidence.
What Happened When We Opened Booking
Booking opened on December 4th.
Within just a few days, the response told us everything we needed to know.
We received 62 direct messages and enquiries, and completed 34 tattoos during the event.
More importantly, the messages themselves shared a pattern:
- “I’ve had this idea forever but never knew how to explain it.”
- “I didn’t think my drawing was good enough.”
- “I’ve been waiting for something like this.”
- “This feels more personal than a flash day.”
The response wasn’t loud.
It was intentional.
What This Told Us About Clients (And the Industry)
The success of BYOD wasn’t accidental.
It revealed something important:
People aren’t tired of tattoos — they’re tired of not being part of the process.
Clients want:
- reassurance
- guidance
- collaboration
- time
- space to decide
They don’t need more pressure.
They need decision safety.
How BYOD Reflects Studio Hon’s 2026 Direction
BYOD wasn’t a one-off idea.
It’s a reflection of how we’re shaping Studio Hon moving forward.
Our 2026 direction is simple:
Not to be the loudest studio — but to be the safest place to make a decision.
That means:
- process over promotion
- calm over urgency
- consistency over scale
- trust over hype
BYOD worked because it aligned with this philosophy.
We didn’t push people to choose.
We invited them to participate.
Why This Event Could Only Work With Experienced Artists
BYOD requires a different skill set than traditional flash events.
Our artists needed to:
- interpret unfinished ideas
- respect the client’s intent
- know what works on skin
- refine without overpowering
- guide without controlling
This isn’t about creativity alone.
It’s about experience, restraint, and consistency.
Who BYOD Is Best For
BYOD was especially meaningful for people who:
- had been thinking about a tattoo for a long time
- felt unsure about their design skills
- wanted professional guidance without pressure
- valued collaboration over speed
- wanted something personal but simple
It was never about how well you could draw.
It was about having a starting point.
Healing, Quality, and Why We Kept Designs Simple
Limiting size and complexity wasn’t about restriction — it was about responsibility.
Smaller, well-designed tattoos:
- heal more consistently
- age better
- allow for cleaner execution
- reduce unnecessary skin trauma
This ensured that every tattoo completed during the event met Studio Hon’s quality standards — even within an event setting.
Will We Do BYOD Again?
We’re not promising a fixed schedule.
But we are committed to the direction.
Events like BYOD remind us that:
- meaningful engagement matters
- people want to be heard
- tattoos are decisions, not products
We plan to continue exploring community-focused, participation-driven events that respect both the client and the craft.
What BYOD Ultimately Represented
BYOD wasn’t about changing tattoos.
It was about changing the relationship.
Between:
- idea and execution
- client and artist
- decision and confidence
That’s where we believe the future of tattooing is heading.
A Different Kind of Tattoo Event
BYOD showed us that when people are invited into the process —
not rushed, not pressured, not sold to —
they respond.
Not with noise.
But with trust.
That’s the direction Studio Hon is committed to moving forward.
📍 Address: 227 2 Ave S, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1K8
📞 Phone: (306) 653-5561
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiohon_/ or @studiohon_
Also, if you click the link below and send us your tattoo-related questions, we’ll do our best to provide you with accurate answers.